Monotonous tales and incoherent thoughts of a seething brain…Read at your peril

Somali Culture

On the wall behind the woman is Salli or Derin. It is mainly used as a prayer mat, but it is also used to sleep on and sometimes it is spread out for the guests to sit on when they arrive. Notice that the man is sitting on one. The object on the wall where the man is leaning on is called Masarafad or sometimes called Masarafad Hilbood. Its main use was to take the large amounts of meat to the guests. The nomads often have many guests and huge quantities of meat is eaten. Receiving a guest with such generosity is often praise worthy and the theme of many verses of poetry. In the Somali culture, where families are judged by their hospitality, Sooryo (receiving guests well) is very important and so is Sagootin (seeing them off well). Now both these items are used for decoration purposes.

This woman is weaving baskets known as Dambiilo (single – Dambiil). Behind her on the wall is Kebed made from threads obtained from trees and strings. The object on her right handside with the blue and white patterns is called a Masaf or Xaarin and is used to separate soil and the impure particles from maize – a process called Haadin.

The mysterious containers (on the left) wrapped in a white cloth and laced by a red rope in the middle are called Xeedhooyin or a Xeedho for a single one and are carved out of wood. Though they are used to store food, they are also used mainly for wedding purposes and this is usually in the Northern regions. I will explain this in more detail in another post.

The other two similar containers (on the right) with the one single lace running across the top part are Dhiilo. This is just one of the many types of Dhiil and it is made from Caw. It is usually used in the Northern parts of Somalia.

Between these two sets of containers is a small object. This is called Dabqaad and is carved out of a special stone primarily found in Ceelbuur, in the South and many other Somali regions. It is used for burning Frankincense, Myrrh and other kinds of incense. The coloured object standing on the far wall facing you is called Alool, the other two facing each other are Kebdo (Single – kebed). They are all now used for decoration purposes. The Kebed is primarily used for building and a protection against the strong Jiilaal winds.

These brilliantly patterned objects are also Dhiilo (single – Dhiil). The object at the forefront, however, is not a Dhiil but a Mooye and is used for grounding spices. These Dhiilo are used throughout Somalia but the methods of making them slightly differ in North and South. The ones above are carved out of wood and are particularly used in the Southern regions of Somalia.

This is the Dhiil used in the Central and Northern regions of Somalia. Notice the difference between the two. This Dhiil is made out of the Qabo tree and the thin fibres of the Booc tree which are then skilfully interwoven. Both types of Dhiilo are used for storing milk and water.

Whoever spent some of his childhood years in Somalia would automatically recognise this thing. It is called Garaangar and every child makes his own by hand. I remember running around all day behind my Garaangar knowing that I had the best toy in the world.

These are the traditional clothes worn by the Somali women. Known as Subeeciyad, it is a one single long cloth draped around the waist and over the shoulders.

The man you see above is being drenched in milk. A rather strange thing to be doing when you consider that that milk is much needed and many children sleep hungry at night. This is called Caana Shub and the man being treated in such a manner is the Sultan, Ugaas, Caaqil, Nabadoon, a sage or a leader of a certain tribe or region.

This is how older generations of Somalis dressed and kept their hair. While travelling men usually carry a Barkin to rest their head on and keep their hair from touching the ground.

Barkin

This is what a Somali spoon or a Fandhaal looks like. I am sure you can guess what its uses are. It is also carved out of wood.

Dabqaad.

Note that all these items may have several name variation in different regions of Somalia.

Its my pleasure to congratulate your efforts that you devout it and i sure you deserve it to submit it. Really i enjoy your blog, i will send you some pictures in our culture and the material/clothes that we made it traditionally and we can work together to safeguard in our culture.
Mahadsanid
Tu-san

[…] Learn something about the Somali culture from Shafi: “Receiving a guest with such generosity is often praise worthy and the theme of many verses of poetry. In the Somali culture, where families are judged by their hospitality, Sooryo (receiving guests well) is very important and so is Sagootin (seeing them off well).” Share This […]

[…] Mianarà fomba Sômaliana miaraka amin’ny mpiblaogy Shafi : « Receiving a guest with such generosity is often praise worthy and the theme of many verses of poetry. In the Somali culture, where families are judged by their hospitality, Sooryo (receiving guests well) is very important and so is Sagootin (seeing them off well). » […]

I am working with a Canadian textbook publisher (Pearson Education) on a book about Canadian immigration throughout history called On the Move. There is a section on the Somali experience and we’d like to use some images of Somali artifacts (rugs, vases, combs, etc.) like the ones that appear on your blog.

Do you own the copyright for these images? If not, can you let me know whom I should contact to find colourful and interesting images of Somali artifacts/crafts?

Hi Mary, most of the images on this blog are mine, expect where I have specified with a link at the bottom of the post. The ones that appear in this post are from here. You can contact them at dhagaweyne@gmail.com

Let me know of the images you want by e-mailing me at shafisaid [at] hotmail.com

[…] (the above is not a hut but a tin-roofed house), with all sorts of elegant decorative utensils and Nomadic handicrafts at display; the bride, in her wedding apparel, is covered with brilliant patterns of henna, the […]

Keep on the good work and congrats.its a lesson for me and others who never knew some of our many beautiful cultural conservation u preserved and posted in this blog and i’m sure its a resourceful culture to learn thanx. Ibrahim (SABS) Garissa kenya.

Hi shafi I’m from kenya n i do collection of somali artefacts n i do go for used ones at least they prove how they turn to be different after use n know how they’re maintained . Doing these to teach/show tommorrow’s generation . Glad to contribute protecting our heritage n thumps -up for job well done.

munyeragwe, i have known our brothers and sisters from Rwanda and i can say we have a lot in common, and as far as i am concerned we are one family as our culture and looks are the same. May the sanderes one day unite.

Wow my mother speaks Somali but i dont know much of the language im trying to take an interest in the heritage and learn the language through the internet as my mother prefers to speak with me in english the only language i understand and its cool to see some of the things we have around the house and finally learn their names like the dapquaad and the dhiil

Waad salamtahay shafi. Masha’Allah walalkis you have a great site. One of the best! fromt he pictures to the gabay to the history to the stories..one word wow! I stumbled to your site while searching for somali poetry and I have more than what i’ve been looking for. I wonder if you are thinking of writting a book b/c rother, I tell ya you’ve got the talent!
keep up

I cant believe how i just stumbled upon you blog, i must say bravo!
At the same time, am saddened at the fact that a majority of our heritage is currently lost or looted thanks to the couple of decades of civil war.
Either way keep up the good work bro!!

Somalia has great culture. I pray to Allah to give the people of Somalia love, peace and prosperity. Islam promotes education. People here also need more education to eradicate poverty. Nazneen O. Saherwala (Surat, India)

Hi,
thanks for the great website. i have been looking for good quality pics on somali culture but it porved so difficult to get good ones. I’m a student and wouldlike to do a somali culture video would appreciate if you me mail me some of the pics above. i generally want pics about somali dress and artifacts.
Thanks walal and keep up the good job.

it’s much great with us to see our folk in such web
and it’s so gladfull pre_nomadic somalian culture
i love somalia i love my country
ouce upon time i hope will be d most peacefull in world
brother’s and sister we hv to pray our land

Salaamu caleykum thanks for the great blog. I have been looking for good quality pictures on Somali culture and I can see more then what I need. I worked with the local education and would like to do a Somali culture Month in several Schools.
I would appreciate if you give me permission to use your pictures in that date.
And please let me know if you own the copyright for these images?
God bless you and keep the good work

Somalia friends, I’m argentine sport journalist and I’m looking for a Somalia football blog. If you know one, please, write me to contact the blogger.
Best regards from Buenos Aires
PabloInternational football journalism

thank you very much for showing us these wonderful somali artfacts, could you please add some more like loox and children reading quran on the loox or writing quran on the loox and somali women making raar and haan(nomad somali women making raar and haan) these things that i just mentioned are now rearly availble even in somalia and I think it will be geate oppertunity for the somali youth to learn more about the somali culture and way of life.

Hi everyone, all of my Somalia respected fellows how great is it to search the web and find this great article which reminds us bout home our identity.
Thanks man for doing this. Anyway I have a question for ever1. Are you all ready?
What is the name of the material that the Darin Or Sali is made of?
Get your answer as soon as possible and u can win …..
Let’s get some answers

asalama caleykum, i am very happy to see this wonderful piece of work. I am making research on somali culture for my university. May i know the source in MLA format please? you may contact me at mohamedmohamud81@yahoo.com
i would appreciate that.

I was born in Kenya and so were my parents but they tell me stories of back home. ohhh and the afro, my dad told me he had a big one. we have one of those neckrest things in our home because my grandpa owned many cattle. Also learned about clan division and the like.

[…] above is not a hut but a tin-roofed house), with all sorts of elegant decorative utensils and Nomadic handicrafts at display; the bride, in her wedding apparel, is covered with brilliant patterns of henna, the […]

This blog is amazing,may i thank for your time and effort.Since i dont know much about the somali culture,being born*bought up in Europe,i have learned much about it.the somali culture& its beautiful&hope that one day Inshallah our country will shine so bright /inshallah!!

[…] above is not a hut but a tin-roofed house), with all sorts of elegant decorative utensils and Nomadic handicrafts at display; the bride, in her wedding apparel, is covered with brilliant patterns of henna, the […]

People of Somalia have rich cultural heritage. Women are beautiful. They comb or rather knit their hair in an artistic manner. They should be given good education to bring up their children well and to protect their beautiful culture. Islamic education can make them strong spiritually and mentally. Material world is good but that is not the only important thing in life. May Allah bless the women of Somalia with lovely heart also.
Nazneen O. Saherwala (Surat, India).